Get care for the wound.
Wash it with soap and running water, then speak with a medical professional promptly about treatment and possible rabies exposure. Keep the discharge papers and follow-up instructions.
Miller & Jacobs · Orlando, Florida
Orlando Dog Bite Lawyer for the Questions That Follow
A dog bite can turn an ordinary visit or walk into urgent care, missed work, and worry about what comes next. If your child was bitten, the questions can feel even bigger. Tell us what you know. We can help sort out the medical record, the report, and whether a claim may be available.
The first conversation is free. No attorney fee unless compensation is recovered.
50+ years
of combined legal experience
230+
jury trials across the partners’ careers
Orlando
Office on South Kirkman Road
Free
consultation about your next steps
A place to begin
You can start before you have the whole story.
You may not know the dog’s owner, whether it was vaccinated, or what a report will say. Care comes first. The rest can be gathered one piece at a time.
For an emergency, call 911. A lawyer’s call should never delay medical attention.
Report the bite locally.
Orange County Animal Services says to call 311 for an animal bite or scratch. Its published contact number is 407-836-3111. The health and animal response is separate from a civil claim.
Save what you already have.
A photo of the injury and place, a witness’s name, messages with the owner, and the time and location can help. Do this only when safe; you do not need to investigate the animal yourself.
Local resource: Orange County bite reports and quarantines →
When the dog is familiar
You can care about the person who owns the dog and still ask what your injury or your child’s recovery will require.
A bite involving a neighbor, friend, or relative can be hard to discuss. We can talk through the facts and possible coverage without asking you to decide how to handle that relationship on the first call.
How Florida looks at a bite
A first bite may still matter under the law.
Florida’s dog bite statute focuses on the bite, the owner, and whether the person was in a public place or lawfully on private property. A history of aggression is not required under that provision. The details still matter.
What the statute covers
Section 767.04 addresses a dog owner’s liability for damage from a bite in a public place or while someone is lawfully on private property, including an invited visit to the owner’s home.
What can change the analysis
The statute addresses a bitten person’s contribution to the incident and a narrow warning sign provision with exceptions. We want the full circumstances before drawing a conclusion about fault or recovery.
Coverage and timing
Insurance terms and the legal theory can affect the path. Florida lists different filing periods for statutory liability and negligence claims. We will review the dates and available coverage without assuming one deadline fits every bite.
Read the primary text: Florida Statutes § 767.04 and § 95.11.
You do not need a completed report to call.
If all you know is when and where it happened, that is a place to start. We can ask for the details that matter and explain what records may still be available.
What to expect
A conversation, then a plan for the missing pieces.
There is no need to recite every detail in perfect order. Your account, medical care and the available records give us a starting point. We can discuss what happens next before you make a decision. Our Orlando personal injury guide explains the broader injury-claim process if you want that context first.
Tell us what you remember.
Who was hurt, where the bite happened, and what care has followed. If the owner is a person you know, you can say so. We will listen without making that relationship the whole case.
We look for the records and coverage.
The report, witness contacts, medical timeline, owner information, photographs and relevant insurance are pieces to examine. We explain what we can pursue and where facts are still missing.
We discuss the path forward.
We talk about treatment still ahead, losses that can be documented, possible defenses, deadlines and the options for a claim. You will know why we recommend a next step.
The injury over time
The first visit does not show every effect.
A bite may heal quickly on the surface while care, scarring, limited movement or fear lasts longer. We look at how the injury has actually affected the person, supported by the records rather than a formula.
These are examples, not a promised settlement amount. The available damages depend on the facts and law.
Treatment and follow-up
Emergency care, infection concerns, medication, specialist visits, therapy and reasonably anticipated future care where supported.
Scarring and function
How the wound changes, whether movement or sensation is affected, and any recommended reconstructive care.
Work and daily life
Time away from work, practical limits at home, pain and the emotional effects tied to the injury.
A child’s recovery
Follow-up that may continue as a child grows, including treatment and the way a visible injury affects ordinary routines.
The people behind the firm
Know who you are calling.
Mark J. Miller and Rick S. Jacobs are partners at Miller & Jacobs. Their biographies explain their backgrounds and work so you can decide whether to start a conversation.
Rick S. Jacobs
PARTNER
Read about Rick’s practice before deciding what to ask on a first call.
Meet Rick →Questions before you call
You can ask the awkward questions, too.
A familiar dog, an uncertain owner, or an incomplete report may leave you unsure whether to call. These are starting answers; the facts of your incident matter.
Does the dog need to have bitten someone before?
No prior bite or known viciousness is required under Florida’s bite statute when its other conditions are met. That does not decide every question about a particular incident.
What if the dog belongs to a friend or relative?
That relationship is a real concern. We can discuss the owner, any possible insurance, and your injury without expecting you to make a personal decision during the first call. Coverage and liability require review.
Will reporting the bite decide what happens to the dog?
Reporting starts a public health and animal services process; it is separate from a civil injury claim. Orange County Animal Services explains its bite investigation and quarantine information. Ask that agency about the animal’s specific situation.
What if a dog knocked me down but did not bite?
The bite specific rule may not fit, but Florida also addresses other damage by dogs. Tell us exactly what happened and where; the legal path needs a separate review.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
Do not rely on one deadline for every dog incident. Florida § 95.11 lists different periods for statutory liability and negligence actions, and other circumstances can matter. Contact us promptly so the incident date and possible claims can be checked before evidence disappears.
Do I need the owner’s insurance details before calling?
No. Share any name, address, message or report number you have. We can explain what identifying the owner and reviewing possible coverage would involve. A policy cannot be assumed just because someone owns a dog.
A conversation comes first
We can begin with what you know today.
There may be a medical visit to arrange, a child to reassure, or a neighbor you still have to see. You can tell us what happened in your own words. We will help separate what needs attention now from what can be found later.